Method and apparatus for treating septic system with radiation activated fluid

Abstract

A low cost method and apparatus for maintaining and rejuvenating a septic system in which an activated gaseous fluid formed by irradiating an oxygen containing gas, such as ambient air, with radiation having a wave-length below 200 nanometers produced by a low powered ultra-violet lamp is brought into intimate contact with liquid in the effluent chamber of a septic tank to effect a substantial reduction in the concentration of suspended solids, volatile solids and fecal coliform in the liquid and when the activated fluid is brought into intimate contact with a drainage field of a septic system clogged with water-insoluble sulfides, and polysaccharide gums and anaerobic organisms of the deposits which have clogged the drainage field are removed. The effluent from a septic tank treated with activated fluid after filtering through a sand filter and subjected to a second treatment with the activated fluid produces a discharge of surface quality water.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a method of on-site treatment of septic tank waste liquid containing suspended solids, dissolved metal salts, organic matter, and micro-organisms for prolonging the useful life of an aqueous septic system including a septic tank having a spaced subsurface discharge area for liquid from said septic tank with conduit means for conveying said liquid from said tank to said discharge area, the improvement comprising: feeding substantially continuously into said liquid in said septic tank after a reduction in the concentration of suspended solids therein a fine dispersion of a radiation activated gaseous fluid in an amount which reacts with suspended solids, dissolved metal salts and organic matter in said liquid and which is conveyed by said liquid into said discharge area where said fluid reacts with solids formed in said discharge area including insoluble sulfides and organic deposits which impede the permeability of said subsurface discharge area to liquid conveyed thereto from said septic tank, said radiation activated gaseous fluid produced by irradiating a gas containing oxygen and moisture with electromagnetic radiation predominantly below a wave-length of 200 nanometers; and said gaseous fluid characterized by: (1) a solution thereof is sulfuric acid at pH 1.5 exhibiting chemilluminesence at 190 nanometers;   (2) absorbing light weakly at 254 nanometers in the gaseous phase;   (3) oxidizing 20 mg/l resorcinol to CO 2  and H 2  O at pH 6.4;   (4) reducing surface tension of distilled water by about 20 dynes cm 2  ;   (5) having an ultraviolet spectrum when measured following irradiation in a polyvinyl chloride enclosure and subsequent dissolving of the product in sulfuric acid at a pH of 1.5 which includes emission in a frequency range including 200 nanometers; and   (6) having an ultraviolet spectrum when measured following irradiation in a polyvinyl chloride enclosure and subsequent dissolving of the product in phosphoric acid at a pH of 1.5 which includes absorption at 195 nanometers and at 254 nanometers; whereby said discharge area remains permeable to liquid from said septic tank for a prolonged period.     
     
     
       2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said gas is irradiated with radiation having a wave-length about 160 nanometers. 
     
     
       3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said activated gaseous fluid is brought into intimate contact with said liquid in an effluent chamber within said septic tank as a dispersion of fine bubbles. 
     
     
       4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said activated gaseous fluid is discharged into said effluent chamber at a level substantially above the lower wall of said chamber. 
     
     
       5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the discharge of said gaseous fluid into said effluent chamber is interrupted periodically to permit suspended solids to settle out of said liquid and collect at the bottom of said chamber. 
     
     
       6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said activated gaseous fluid is conveyed through said conduit means into said subsurface discharge area in an amount sufficient to disperse water insoluble metal sulfides and polysaccharide gums in said discharge area. 
     
     
       7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said radiation activated gaseous fluid is brought into intimate contact with said liquid within said conduit means and discharged into said discharge area dispersed in said liquid as a dispersion of fine bubbles; whereby deposits of polysaccharide gums and water-insoluble sulfide in said discharge area are solubilized. 
     
     
       8. A method as in claim 1, wherein said liquid flowing from said septic tank is filtered through a filter means which removes suspended solids therein, and thereafter the filtered liquid is subjected to a second treatment with a sufficient amount of said activated gaseous fluid in a treating chamber to provide surface quality water before being discharged into said drainage area. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus for on-site treatment of an aqueous septic system which prolongs the useful life of the system comprising in combination; a source of radiation activated gaseous fluid, a septic tank with an effluent chamber containing liquid having a reduced concentration of suspended solids, liquid conduit means for conveying said liquid from said chamber to subsurface discharge area, and gas conduit means for bringing said activated gaseous fluid from said source into intimate contact with said liquid in said effluent chamber, and said radiation activated gaseous fluid characterized by; (1) a solution thereof in sulfuric acid at pH 1.5 exhibiting chemilluminesence at 190 nanometers;   (2) absorbing light weakly at 254 nanometers in the gaseous phase;   (3) oxidizing 20 mg/l resorcinol to CO 2  and H 2  O at pH 6.4;   (4) reducing surface tension of distilled water by about 20 dynes cm 2  ;   (5) having an ultraviolet spectrum when measured following irradiation in a polyvinyl chloride enclosure and subsequent dissolving of the product in sulfuric acid at a pH of 1.5 which includes emission in a frequency range including 200 nanometers; and   (6) having an ultraviolet spectrum when measured following irradiation in a polyvinyl chloride enclosure and subsequent dissolving of the product in phosphoric acid at a pH of 1.5 which includes absorption at 195 nanometers and at 254 nanometers.   
     
     
       10. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said liquid conduit means conveys said liquid from said effluent chamber to a discharge area which is below ground level, and said gas conduit means disposed within said liquid conduit means in said discharge area adapted to discharge into said liquid therein said radiation activated gaseous fluid in finely divided form. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein liquid conduit means is provided for conveying said liquid from said effluent chamber to a filter means, a filter means which removes suspended solids in said liquid, means for conveying the filtered liquid to a treating chamber, and gas conduit means adapted to feed said radiation activated gaseous fluid in finely divided form into said liquid in said treating chamber.